TRAVESTY UPON JUSTICE

JOHN 18:1

A. THE JEWS, WHO HAD THE POWER OF MINOR COURT TRIALS
  1. Professed to be governed by the law of the Lord:
    1. This, however, was true only superficially, as seemed to their own advantage.
    2. They, of course, had their own interpretation of the law.
  2. The records show that during the trial of Christ they disregarded all the elements of justice indicated in the law and blindly sought to destroy Christ:
    1. By using methods condemned by the law - Acts 23:3
    2. By using impugnation before a verdict could be based upon the evidence at hand.
B. TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE AT THE COURT OF HIS PEOPLE
  1. Prosecutors:
    1. A trial by night; that in itself was contrary to sound law.
    2. The testimony of false witnesses received -
      1. The testimonies were self-contradictory - Mark 14:56
      2. They falsified His words, making up sayings that He never said - Mark 14:58, 59; John 2:19. Even their own testimony was contradictive.
    3. They attempted to make Christ witness against Himself.
    4. They denied the office of the rulers.
  2. Conduct of Jesus:
    1. He met fury with dignified self-control.
    2. Even Pilate had to exclaim at the trial of our Lord, "Behold the man! John 19:5
    3. He answered the questions, concerning Himself and His ministry, with calmness and great dignity.
    4. The undeserved abuse He bore in great humility - Isa. 53:6
    5. He was the only person at the trial that revealed a sense of justice, even in the face of gross injustice by His own people.
  3. The conduct of His accusers:
    1. They disqualified themselves meting out justice -
      1. Through unreasonable bias.
      2. They showed personal venom toward Christ.
    2. They brought out a verdict of guilt without the needed evidence in the case.
    3. They put a false construction upon his words.
    4. They pretended that His avowal of Himself was a confession of guilt.
    5. They subjected Him to great indignation without any justifiable reason!
  4. A friend that failed:
    1. Peter, who was so confident of himself a few hours before the trial, assured his Master that he would never forsake Him but failed to keep his promise.
    2. He moved to a dangerous place -
      1. Warmed himself at the fire of the enemy - Luke 22:56-58
      2. Denied his Lord three times - Mark 14:71
  5. Why did that friend fail?
    1. He slept when he should have been in prayer.
    2. He trusted self when he should have leaned on the Lord.
C. A LESSON FOR GOD'S PEOPLE TODAY
  1. The trial of our Lord, by His own people, was a miscarriage of justice:
    1. Because they had rejected His message.
    2. That blinded them to truth and justice.
    3. By rejecting the Lord they placed themselves into the service of Satan, a murderer.
  2. When we blind ourselves to the teachings of Jesus Christ, we, too, will become the agents of Satan, and so do his will even in the halls of Justice:
  3. Rejection of light leaves no alternatives:
    1. He, who is not for Christ, is against Him - Matt. 12:30
    2. There are but two Masters to choose from and to serve - Christ or Satan.
    3. The Jews preferred to serve Satan because they hated the Son of God and killed Him.
    4. What would we have done in their place?


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